Clamp for trawling line float



Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to trawling fishing and has special reference to the floating board attached to the trawling line at a point intermediate between the boat and the lure, whereby the 5 depth of the lure below the surface is controlled.

The objects of my invention are to provide an attaching means for said floating board whereby it may be quickly released from the line when being hauled in and equally quickly attached to the line at the desired point when being paid out to provide such a device which will automatically accommodate lines of varying diameter; which securely fastens the floating board to the line; which holds the line centrally under the floating board; and which is simple and cheap in construction and eifective in use.

I attain these and other objects by the devices, mechanisms, and arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a side View of the floating board in use; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom side thereof; and Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sections thereof taken respectively on the lines 3 3, 4-4, and 5-5 in Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Various devices have been used for attaching a floating board to a trawling line in the past but, so far as known, they have not been readily releasable from the line, nor attached thereto, so that considerable difliculty in handling the line has been experienced both in paying out and in hauling in the line, and therefore I have invented the following described mechanism whereby the board may be quickly attached to the line or completely disengaged and removed therefrom.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the trawling line I passes along the underside of the floating board 2, being held in central position by two curved arms 3 which form guides, and being clamped to the board, against longitudinal movement by an elastic lever-clamp at a point centrally intermediate between the said arms 3 and preferably forward of the longitudinal center of the board. The arms 3 and the central clamp are integrally connected and operate together so that when the clamp is released the whole line I is released from all connection with the board 2 and the arms 3.

This mechanism comprises a rod or heavy wire, of spring material, which is bent at each end to form two curved arms 3 and which is bent centrally to form the lever or handle 4, and which fits snugly in the end staple bearings 5 and the alined inner Staple bearings 6, The end staple bearings 5 are positioned close to the end arms 3 and the inner staple bearings 6 are placed a substantial distance on each side of the handle 4, dividing the distance between the arms 3 into three substantially equal parts, and permitting the root of the handle to spring away from the board 2 between the bearings 6, under the strain of clamping the line I. The ends of the curved arms 3 enter small cavities I in the lower side of the board 2. The rod lies in contact with the board 2, being held thereunder by the staples 5 and 6 which form its bearings. The rod is bent in such manner that when the handle 4 is brought up into contact with the edge of the board 2 (Fig. 4) the said arms 3 engage in the cavities I and form guide loops through which the line I freely passes (Fig. 3) and from which it cannot escape, and when the handle 4 is dropped vertically downward, the said arms 3 are turned downward to completely release the line I from engagement therewith.

The handle 4 is formed of the same rod bent to form two parallel separated levers joined at their outer end and I prefer to enclose the base of these levers by a sleeve 8 of copper, or other suitable material. The lever 4 is of such length as to extend a short distance beyond the edge of the board 2. A metal plate 9 is inset into the lower side of the board 2 at the said handle 4. A latch loop I is pivotally mounted at the edge of the upper side of the board 2, immediately over the said handle 4, and comprises a U-shaped wire adapted to pass over the end of the handle 4 and engage its under side (Fig. 4) to releasably hold the handle 4 in this locking position.

When the board 2 is attached by the abovedescribed mechanism to a line I, the line passes under the two arms 3 and is clamped between the sleeve 8 and the plate 9, flexing or springing the rod downward between the staples 6 (Figs. 4 and which, as above described, are separated sufficiently to provide the required flexibility of the said elastic rod. The degree of fiexure of the rod depends upon the diameter of the line I; the larger the line the greater the flexure of the rod. Thus the device automatically adjusts itself to enable it to clamp any size of line, within the capacity of the structure.

Thus it will be seen that, in order to attach the board 2 to the line I, the said line is first paid out the required distance between the board and the lure, then the board is placed bottom side up, with the handle 4 extending vertically upward, and the line I is laid centrally on the board 2 to lie parallel with the rod and between the rod and H. B. LODGE 2,226,005

DRILL GUIDE Filed May 8, 1939 INVENTOR.

BY lionflloagge I ATTORN 

